https://terrafabswingarms.com/blogs/news.atomTerraFab Swingarms - News2018-07-30T09:17:00-05:00TerraFab Swingarmshttps://terrafabswingarms.com/blogs/news/make-sure-your-atv-is-ready-for-a-dune-trip2018-07-30T09:17:00-05:002018-07-30T09:17:36-05:00Make Sure Your ATV Is Ready for A Dune TripJon Grogan
Sand dune riding is a whole other animal to off-roading on rock or soil. The feel of it is more fluid, and the softer landing gives you a bit more liberty if you want to try out a few simple tricks for the first time.

Off-roading on sand also takes a little more prep work to make sure that your gear is up to speed for the adventure, though. Make sure you’re prepped and ready to go before you start blazing a trail.

Your ATV Parts Checklist

Start with fresh oil. Your transmission and your motor are going to be in overdrive, and you want to make sure those gears are well lubricated for a fresh turn in the sand.

You should be sure to check your filter too—because it’s going to be your engine’s safeguard against those flying sand particles when you’re too busy enjoying the ride to worry.

Make sure that there aren’t any loose parts that might be at risk of knocking loose and getting lost in the dunes.

A quick tire check could save you a boatload of grief. When they’re in good shape, the tires, tire pressure, and wheels work together to keep you safe on the sand, and to help create the right levels of tension for simple stunts, racing, or just going with the flow. Especially if you plan to take your ATV out on sand without paddles, you’ll want to make sure your tire pressure is good first. If your tires are lacking air, they may struggle to get the traction you need in sand to get moving at all, let alone for speeding through those curves.

Last But Not Least: Adjust for Air

If you want to prep for some simple, smooth jumps where your ride isn’t getting stuck in the sand, you can make a few simple alterations to your ride before you get started. It’s a good idea to try dropping the front sprocket size down one tooth, to help you build more power in the dense sand. Don’t forget that different tire cleats—or grips—are going to interact with sand differently. Paddle tires are going to perform better in sand, and help you maneuver easier.

Gear Up, Get Gone

Doing a few simple checks on your ATV and gear set you up for a good time, and save you from any unwanted surprises. Some safety checks on the front end of your fun mean that once you hit the sand, you can just worry about having a good time. And leaving your friends in the dust.

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https://terrafabswingarms.com/blogs/news/5-dune-riding-locations-for-the-summer2018-07-18T08:41:00-05:002018-07-30T09:15:23-05:005 Dune Riding Locations For This SummerJon Grogan
Freedom looks like sand in your gears, blazing through wide-open spaces, and tearing through that G-force at the bottom of a dune at full throttle. The best kicks and thrills come from making your own adventures. If you happen to be on the lookout for a new desert ATV adventure, maybe one of these locations can help you find your next adrenaline fix.

Glamis – California

There’s a reason this place is called the sand toy capital of the world. The Imperial Sand Dunes in southern California give 40 miles out of open space for tearing it up, or for turning up the speed and leaving your friends in the dust. If you’re checking the best dates to travel, see which of their local festivals are up and coming, and make sure you hit the sweet spot of the riding season between September and May. It can get pretty blazing in SoCal, in more ways than one.

St. Anthony Sand Dunes – Idaho

If your idea of a good time includes a vertical 300-foot mountain of sand, welcome to Idaho. It may not be the ATV adventure detour you were expecting, but it’s the one you didn’t know you needed. Depending on the season and the elevation, you may even get a touch of snow mixed in with your sand, and the mingled elevations here mean that you are a little less likely to die of thirst. Sick stunts, though? The jury’s still out.

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area – Oregon

10,000 acres of open sand dunes to tear through isn’t a bad way to spend a vacation. These sand dune trails in Oregan creep their way into pine forests, and provide you a mixture of open space to have your way, and evergreen detours and scattered green sea grass to get some variety in your off-road action that you might not find in the American south.

Dumont Dunes – California

Death Valley isn’t for the faint of heart. If you’ve got the guts and the gear, then the Dumont Dunes just north of Baker, CA, are ready and waiting. Perhaps because of the more intense climate, these dunes are normally less trafficked than the Imperial Sand Dunes. Make sure your body and your gear are up for the challenge.

Little Sahara – Utah

Have you ever heard of Sand Mountain? Surprise. It’s one of Utah’s many natural wonders, and it’s Utahs’ tallest sand dune at nearly 700 feet high. It comes with the territory in Utah: mountains, cliffs, rough terrain, and about 60,000 acres of sand in the Little Sahara all just waiting to be explored.

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https://terrafabswingarms.com/blogs/news/atv-night-riding-pros-cons2018-06-25T14:57:00-05:002018-06-28T13:31:34-05:00ATV Night Riding: Pros & ConsBaylor Heath
ATV riders seem to either love riding at night or hate it. Both are justified views, because of the benefits and disadvantages on either side. If you are on the fence, this pros & cons list may sway you one way or the other. Bad news first:

NIGHT RIDING CONS

If riding in wooded trails, you may be surprised by the amount of wildlife. Flashing your light on these night critters is inevitable, and hitting them is not out of the question. This may only be a con for the animals, but in the unfortunate case of a deer going over the handlebars, it will most definitely be a con for the rider.

Speaking of wildlife, do you enjoy a mouthful of bugs during your ride? Most would consider that a con, but if you are into the insect diet, no judgment here (okay, maybe a little).

When navigating with only the light from the moon and your headlamps, your depth perception may fail and make bumps and drop-offs appear different than they really are. Your headlamp flickering between trees and casting elongating shadows through the forest may create dizziness over time.

The previous three will be less of a problem when riding in the dunes, however, then you have a new problem: humans. Drunken humans, to be exact. Yes, intoxicated dune riding is not totally uncommon in popular destinations, and it poses an obvious threat for the sober drivers.

NIGHT RIDING PROS

Riding in the dusty, high-temperatures of the summer can be brutal. Night riding provides a cooler, breezier ride.

The unpredictability of the experience is a pro for the thrill seekers. When your vision is limited to the light before you, reliance on instincts is a must. Though it may be necessary to go slower at night, you’ll likely feel like you are flying in the third gear.

Riding at night, using the moon for light is an experience completely unlike that of living in the city. You’ll notice the vibrancy of the moon unlike ever before.

If you are camping out and riding the dunes for an extended period, the wind whipped dunes will likely be altogether different at night. You can ride a couple of hours during the day, and come back for a night ride to a whole new landscape.

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https://terrafabswingarms.com/blogs/news/summer-dune-festival-roaring-up2018-06-13T09:23:00-05:002018-06-13T09:24:44-05:00Summer Dune Festival Roaring UpBaylor Heath
Each year ATV devotees around the world make their annual Summer pilgrimage to the Oregon Dunes for the biggest festival in the ATV community. Along the scenic shore of the Pacific Ocean, DuneFest boasts over 10,000 acres for riders of varying skill levels to compete and participate together in motocross, drag racing, neck-to-neck cruising, and more.

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Do you hear it? Under the humdrum of day jobs around the world, there is an underground crowd of ATV riders chanting in anticipation, “its the most wonderful time of the year!” No, they aren’t clamoring about Christmas. Even better, they are gearing up for DuneFest, the ultimate ATV dune-riding extravaganza that only comes once a year.

Each year ATV devotees around the world make their annual Summer pilgrimage to the Oregon Dunes for the biggest festival in the ATV community. Along the scenic shore of the Pacific Ocean, DuneFest boasts over 10,000 acres for riders of varying skill levels to compete and participate together in motocross, drag racing, neck-to-neck cruising, and more. With monumental dunes, millions of years in the making - some as high as 500 feet - it is no wonder legend has it that it is the best place to go airborne. Aside from the dunes alone, the festivities are endless with giveaways, vendors, and shows. Still not convinced on giving up those Summer vacation days? Here are more reasons to attend DuneFest this year:

Fun for the Little Riders Too

The DuneFest motto is “the most fun a family can have in the sand!” The festival has a long tradition of fun for the whole family. Not only are there several camping areas that are accessible for families to spend the week in, but designated kid’s riding areas and events like kid’s drag races. This is the best place to bring up the little riders.

Matchless Gear Available

DuneFest lines up the best brands in the business each year in the legendary Vendor Row. The line-up is endless, boasting industry leaders (Yamaha, Polaris) to the up-and-coming independent, innovators. Take a stroll down Vendor Row and see they state of the art vehicles be showcased, and purchase gear you won’t find elsewhere. It is not uncommon that vendors will let attendees ride cutting-age, not yet released vehicles on the dunes. Not to mention, Monster Energy Drink is a proud sponsor of the festival and will be your exclusive fuel leaving Vendor Row.

Ride Into The Night

You heard us. As if dune riding weren’t the ultimate thrill ride already, DuneFest challenges riders to race each other after hours. Lighting up the Oregon nights in neon blazes of blue and red, DuneFest attendees engage in hitting the treacherous dunes in there dark together. It is a true trial that every ATV rider should experience.

DuneFest runs from July 24th to 29th this 2018. Visit dunefest.com for more information.

Gearing up to hit the dunes? If it's your first time, buckle up, because you are in for an altogether different ride than what you experience on the trails. The sand dunes carry a variety of different variables which make riding their ever-changing slopes a challenge every ATV rider must take on. Remember, they don’t call them All Terrain Vehicles for no reason. It might be time to switch up your terrain, and up your game!

Heres the thing: sand is like glitter. It seems to adhere itself in every unwanted place, and try as you may to wash it off, it continues to glisten tauntingly at you. Likewise, riding the dunes will bathe every nook and cranny of your ATV in sand. No problem! A little mess never hurt an ATV that wasn’t prepared for the experience. The TerraFab team has got you covered with the necessary gear to protect against the sand and the pro tips for dune riding.

Necessary Gear

1. Sand and paddle tires

“The wheels on the ATV go round and round”...well, maybe so much if they are the average knob tires in the sand. For sustainable trips to the dunes, swap out the knob tires for rear paddle tires and blade tires in the front. Paddle tires are designed to scoop the sand in the revolution of the tire for grip in acceleration in sandhill climbing and dragging. You’ll be whipping up a pleasantly dramatic sandstorm behind you too.

2. Steel sprockets

The non-stop grind of the sand will call for steel sprockets, which are solid and durable. Save yourself the damage the sand will deal on aluminum sprockets! Better to have the preventive parts, like steel sprockets, than to be constantly replacing gear.

3. Viscosity Lube

To avoid cleaning up a messy and gluey fluid after your ride in the dunes, you’ll want to avoid using regular chain lube. This gluey fluid is the product of the naturally thick lube battered with the adhesive sand throughout the ride. A lighter chain oil will not mix so disastrously with the sand and is the safer solution. Another helpful alternative is simply, tired and true, WD40 (however, you’ll want to check if it is adaptable to your ATV’s parts).

4. Protection for Air Filters

Imagine attempting to breathe with a mouth full of sand. Apologies for the unpleasant imagery, but that is what your air filter will be like in the onslaught of sand when you hit the dunes. Therefore, take the preventive step and invest in a K&N pre-filter. This provides a cover for your air-box, keeping the sand out, and your engine living longer!

5. Let Your Flag Fly

The last four pieces of gear defended the interior of your ATV, but nothing goes further in protecting the exterior when riding in the dunes than a safety flag. Remember how well the Sand People hid in the sandy hills of Tatooine in Star Wars? Their surprise attacks may have seemed skilled, but the dunes did all the camouflaging work. When rolling up and down the hills, riders can seem to emerge from nowhere. Attaching an 8-foot tall safety flag from your ATV will enable all other riders to see you coming from far away, preventing head-on collisions.

Pro Tips for Sand Dune Riding

1. Don’t Go Solo

There is an appeal in being a lone wolf on the trail, but the absence of trails in the dunes can quickly become disorienting. Having some friends tag along will greatly decrease your possibility of becoming very lost. "If everyone is moving forward together,” said Henry Ford once, “then success takes care of itself." Better yet, come up up with preventive strategies to avoid getting lost together such as deciding on a designated meet-up location and equipping someone with a GPS. Additionally, everyone acts as each other’s spotters, making sure no one in the group is barreling towards another rider.

2. Riding Gear

Your ATV isn’t the only thing that needs protecting. Wearing safety gear in the sand dunes may be twice as important than as on the trails, as your probability of falling is greater. Be safe and armor up.

We wish you the best and are here for you if you ever have any questions.

Tag us on Instagram or Facebook and we'll repost your next ride!

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https://terrafabswingarms.com/blogs/news/if-you-guys-havent-read-our-story-go-to-about-us-and-check-it-out2017-09-08T08:44:00-05:002017-09-13T18:19:52-05:00IF YOU GUYS HAVENT READ OUR STORY (click here)TerraFab Swingarms LLC.
After being laid off 3 weeks ago and my income went to almost nothing. I decided to finally take TerraFab fulltime to support my family. I love this community and enjoy building and innovating new products for dune and drag racing. Me and my family truly appreciate every customer and value your loyalty to our brand. You as the customer mean so much to us and without you our bills couldn't get paid. You are truly putting food on the table for my family. I have such a passion for this industry that I am willing to make the sacrifice to go with my passion and love for ATVs and the dunes to make a living. Some times its tough and income is up and down but the love of the sport drives me. Since I will be full time now I will have more time to develop new products and parts as well as make existing parts better. I plan to bring back rectangle tube swingarms and ladder bar swingarms soon. I will also be offering the patent pending two piece drag bars. All of this to come before the end of the year. I want to thank each and every one of you for the support and kind words. I